49ers to donate $1M to 'groups creating change' after George Floyd's death
Amid protests across the United States in response to the death of George Floyd, San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York announced Saturday via Twitter that the organization will be donating $1 million to "local and national organizations who are creating change."
This isn't the first time the 49ers have donated money to social justice causes. In 2016, the organization matched a $1 million donation made by Colin Kaepernick to Bay Area charities that addressed social issues in collaboration with law enforcement.
Kaepernick spent the 2016 season protesting police brutality and systematic racism by kneeling during the national anthem but ultimately faced an extreme amount of backlash for his actions and is no longer playing in the NFL.
York is only the latest member of the NFL community to speak up about the death of Floyd. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement Saturday, and Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores was applauded for the powerful statement he made via the organization.
Floyd, an African American man, died Monday after being restrained by police for alleged forgery. An officer put immense pressure on Floyd's neck with his knee as he laid on the ground fighting for his life. A witness's video surfaced showing Floyd begging for his life and even telling the officer he couldn't breathe. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The officer who knelt on Floyd's neck, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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